Written Answers Thursday 22 June 2006

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why residents of the Highlands and Islands are not able to use online booking systems to book flights under the Aid of Social Character Scheme and whether it is aware that offline booking fees are incurred by those who wish to use the scheme.

Tavish Scott: Online booking is possible for all eligible residents through www.ba.com/ads and www.flybmi.com/airdiscountscheme which facilitate flights with British Airways/Loganair and bmi respectively.

  Eastern Airways is expected soon to be in a position to offer online access to flights under the Air Discount Scheme. Highland Airways does not offer an online booking facility.

  It is a prerequisite of the Air Discount Scheme that related businesses are not disadvantaged. Any affiliated travel agent providing a booking facility may, therefore, choose to make a charge for this service in accordance with its standard business practice.

Air Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average reduction in price is for tickets booked under the Aid of Social Character scheme by residents of the Highlands and Islands on each of the eligible routes.

Tavish Scott: A 40% reduction on core air fares for residents eligible under the Air Discount Scheme is available on scheduled air services between the eligible areas (Orkney, Shetland, Western Isles, Islay and Jura, Caithness and north west Sutherland) and to and from Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow International and Edinburgh Airports.

Air Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25979 by Tavish Scott on 6 June 2006, whether residents of eligible areas of the Highlands and Islands are able to claim a discount under the Aid of Social Character Scheme on a flight from an eligible area of the Highlands and Islands to one of the four main Scottish airports if they are flying there for the purposes of connecting to a flight to a further destination.

Tavish Scott: The Air Discount Scheme may be used by eligible residents on flights between the eligible areas and to and from Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow International and Edinburgh Airports, irrespective of the ultimate planned destination.

Air Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25980 by Tavish Scott on 6 June 2006, what measurements it will use to assess the effectiveness of the Aid of Social Character scheme to determine whether it will be extended beyond 2008 and whether the assessment will also include an assessment of the benefits that would have accrued through the use of public service obligations on the same routes over the same period.

Tavish Scott: The Air Discount Scheme will be assessed on the basis of its effectiveness in delivering the benefits of lower air fares to residents of the eligible areas in the Highlands and Islands. The primary objective of the scheme is to facilitate greater social inclusion in the most peripheral areas of the Highlands and Islands through affordable access to air services to the main economic and administrative centres of Scotland.

Air Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25977 by Tavish Scott on 6 June 2006, whether it is considering increasing the discount on air fares available to Highlands and Islands’ residents from 40% and whether it expects to increase the discount between now and the end of the current scheme in 2008.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to increase the discount. The take-up of the Air Discount Scheme will, however, be monitored closely.

Alcohol Misuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to tackle alcohol problems in the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area since 1997.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive published a Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems in 2002. The plan sets out a range of actions to tackle alcohol problems in Scotland.

  Delivery of the aims of the plan is being taken forward by a range of organisations including at a local level through Alcohol and Drugs Action Teams (ADATs). Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire are covered by the Argyll and Clyde ADAT other than the Clydebank area of West Dunbartonshire, which is covered by Greater Glasgow ADAT.

  Since 2002-03 each ADAT has been tasked with producing annual Corporate Action Plans which include actions that are being taken forward locally to tackle alcohol related problems. These are available on the ISD website at:

  http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/dat/cap/dat.htm.

  Some of the activities to tackle alcohol problems in these areas include almost £500,000 being spent in West Dunbartonshire to support new service development for alcohol problems, almost £400,000 to extend and develop community alcohol services in Argyll and Bute and over £300,000 in Greater Glasgow (which is inclusive of the Clydebank area of West Dunbartonshire) to develop projects aimed at early intervention in community and primary health care and workplace settings.

  Additional information can be obtained direct from NHS boards. Information is not available centrally on tackling alcohol problems prior to 2002-03.

Autism

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in each local authority area have been referred to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration in each year since 1995 and, of these, how many were diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.

Robert Brown: Children are referred to the Children’s Reporter on the basis of the grounds contained in section 52(2) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. Accordingly, no central data of medical records is kept by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration. The number of children referred is contained in the Annual Reports of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.

Cancer

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of patients have been treated for breast cancer within six weeks of (a) referral by a GP and (b) diagnosis in the last 12 months, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is contained in the following two tables.

  (a) GP Referral to treatment:

  Table 1: Number and Percentage of Breast Cancer Patients1 Diagnosed in 2005 who Received Treatment within Six Weeks (42 Days) of Referral by NHS Board of Diagnosis for GP referrals.

  

 
 Number of Patients1
 Treated Within 6 Weeks


 Number
 %


 Argyll and Clyde
 163
 150
 92.0%


 Ayrshire and Arran
 171
 87
 50.9%


 Borders
 61
 49
 80.3%


 Dumfries and Galloway
 85
 79
 92.9%


 Fife
 137
 20
 14.6%


 Forth Valley
 81
 47
 58.0%


 Grampian
 204
 27
 13.2%


 Greater Glasgow
 355
 249
 70.1%


 Highland
 105
 36
 34.3%


 Lanarkshire
 212
 157
 74.1%


 Lothian
 340
 141
 41.5%


 Orkney
 5
 3
 60.0%


 Shetland2
 6
 1
 16.7%


 Tayside
 248
 84
 33.9%


 Western Isles
 6
 3
 50.0%


 Scotland
 2,179
 1,133
 52.0%



  (b) Diagnosis to treatment:

  Table 2: Number and Percentage of Breast Cancer Patients1 Diagnosed in 2005 who Received Treatment within Six Weeks (42 Days) of Diagnosis by NHS Board of Diagnosis

  

 
 Number of Patients1
 Treated within 6 Weeks


 Number
 %


 Argyll and Clyde
 202
 189
 93.6%


 Ayrshire and Arran
 328
 303
 92.4%


 Borders
 91
 90
 98.9%


 Dumfries and Galloway
 110
 110
 100.0%


 Fife
 146
 141
 96.6%


 Forth Valley
 109
 105
 96.3%


 Grampian
 361
 251
 69.5%


 Greater Glasgow
 731
 703
 96.2%


 Highland
 187
 167
 89.3%


 Lanarkshire
 290
 284
 97.9%


 Lothian
 737
 713
 96.7%


 Orkney
 5
 3
 60.0%


 Shetland2
 6
 5
 83.3%


 Tayside
 372
 309
 83.1%


 Western Isles
 7
 6
 85.7%


 Scotland
 3,682
 3,379
 91.8%



  Note:

  1. Exclusion categories are: died prior to receiving treatment, refused treatment, patient induced non-clinical delay and co-morbidities.

  2. Shetland started reporting on their own patients from July 2005, previously included with Grampian.

  3. Total number of patients diagnosed includes those referred other than GP including Scottish Breast Screening Programme.

Care of Elderly People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the budget for free personal care and nursing care has been allocated to (a) Argyll and Bute Council and (b) West Dunbartonshire Council since 2002.

Lewis Macdonald: Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) is not a budget or money but is the methodology for apportioning funding to local authorities.

  Before Free Personal and Nursing Care was introduced local authorities were already receiving funding to provide personal care services without charge to those people who could not afford to pay for them. Local authorities are expected to continue to use this money as well as the additional funds provided for the policy.

  £162 million has been provided nationally for the current year. £85.3 million of this is provided for personal and nursing care payments on behalf of people in care homes. Line (1) of the following table represents the amount provided for Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire councils.

  The balance of this money, £76.7 million, has been provided for personal care at home and this is included in the £467.3 million provided in the GAE line Services for Home Based Elderly. Line (2) of the following table represents the amount provided under that GAE line for Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire councils.

  

 GAE Line
 
2002-03
(£ Million)
2003-04
(£ Million)
2004-05
(£ Million)
2005-06
(£ Million)
2006-07
(£ Million)


 (1) Free personal and nursing care in care homes
 Argyll and Bute Council
 1.583
 2.174
 2.266
 2.360
 2.488


 West Dunbartonshire Council 
 0.537
 0.738
 0.769
 0.801
 0.844


 (2) Services for the Home Based Elderly
 Argyll and Bute Council
 6.332
 8.327
 8.597
 9.013
 9.836


 West Dunbartonshire Council 
 6.223
 8.204
 8.979
 9.422
 10.174

Child Protection

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in identifying positive alternatives for children and young people abused through prostitution since the publication in February 2005 of the Barnardo’s report on alternatives to secure accommodation.

Robert Brown: There has been a welcome growth in support for young people at risk of being abused through prostitution. The Executive has provided financial support to a number of organisations and projects working in this important aspect of child protection, such as ChildLine, Aberlour - Running Other Choices refuge, Barnardo’s - Nae Danger, and Who Cares? It has also funded the development of alternatives to secure accommodation by £1.8 million a year through the Intensive Support Fund.

Crime

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted of an offence involving a (a) knife and (b) gun in each year since 1999 and how many of these convictions resulted in a police sentence, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: There are a number of possible charges which can result from offences involving a knife or gun, including for example murder, attempted murder, culpable homicide, robbery and assault. While it is not generally possible to separately identify the use of a knife or gun in these charges, information is available centrally on convictions for some offences which by definition involved a weapon: possession of an offensive weapon, having in a public place an article with a blade or a point, or firearms offences. In addition, separate statistical information is available on persons convicted in homicide cases by the method of homicide. All the available information is given in the following tables.

  Convictions resulting in a police sentence have been understood to refer to convictions resulting in a custodial sentence.

  Persons with a Charge Proved for Selected Offences Involving Knives or Guns1, by Police Force Area, 1999-2000 to 2004-052

  

 Police Force Area
 Possession of an Offensive Weapon3
 Firearms Offences
 Having in a Public Place an Article With a Blade or a Point
 Total


 Central 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 26
 4
 20
 50


 2000-01
 37
 9
 30
 76


 2001-02
 35
 8
 26
 69


 2002-03
 41
 8
 28
 77


 2003-04
 46
 10
 37
 93


 2004-05
 55
 8
 40
 103


 Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 26
 9
 10
 45


 2000-01
 28
 3
 16
 47


 2001-02
 15
 11
 17
 43


 2002-03
 31
 5
 25
 61


 2003-04
 19
 4
 17
 40


 2004-05
 20
 10
 28
 58


 Fife 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 31
 3
 19
 53


 2000-01
 22
 5
 23
 50


 2001-02
 43
 6
 24
 73


 2002-03
 29
 5
 32
 66


 2003-04
 23
 1
 28
 52


 2004-05
 21
 4
 23
 48


 Grampian 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 40
 13
 27
 80


 2000-01
 38
 12
 30
 80


 2001-02
 68
 10
 47
 125


 2002-03
 54
 9
 49
 112


 2003-04
 64
 7
 54
 125


 2004-05
 86
 7
 59
 152


 Lothian and Borders 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 91
 18
 108
 217


 2000-01
 114
 24
 120
 258


 2001-02
 149
 13
 121
 283


 2002-03
 149
 22
 171
 342


 2003-04
 117
 24
 173
 314


 2004-05
 140
 24
 201
 365


 Northern 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 22
 13
 12
 47


 2000-01
 19
 8
 14
 41


 2001-02
 27
 9
 17
 53


 2002-03
 25
 12
 28
 65


 2003-04
 20
 13
 27
 60


 2004-05
 34
 7
 22
 63


 Strathclyde 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 793
 61
 773
 1,627


 2000-01
 874
 62
 845
 1,781


 2001-02
 967
 62
 933
 1,962


 2002-03
 1,004
 53
 960
 2,017


 2003-04
 1,097
 39
 1,022
 2,158


 2004-05
 1,294
 55
 1,256
 2,605


 Tayside 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 74
 11
 46
 131


 2000-01
 76
 18
 54
 148


 2001-02
 81
 9
 62
 152


 2002-03
 72
 15
 72
 159


 2003-04
 82
 14
 46
 142


 2004-05
 90
 8
 74
 172


 Scotland
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 1,103
 132
 1,015
 2,250


 2000-01
 1,208
 141
 1,132
 2,481


 2001-02
 1,385
 128
 1,247
 2,760


 2002-03
 1,405
 129
 1,365
 2,899


 2003-04
 1,468
 112
 1,404
 2,984


 2004-05
 1,740
 123
 1,703
 3,566



  Persons given Custodial Sentences for Selected Offences Involving Knives or Guns1, by Police Force Area, 1999-2000 to 2004-052

  

 Police Force Area
 Possession of an Offensive Weapon3
 Firearms Offences
 Having in a Public Place an Article with a Blade or a Point
 Total


 Central 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 -
 1
 2
 3


 2000-01
 3
 1
 2
 6


 2001-02
 1
 -
 4
 5


 2002-03
 5
 1
 7
 13


 2003-04
 6
 -
 7
 13


 2004-05
 10
 -
 6
 16


 Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 2
 -
 1
 3


 2000-01
 10
 -
 3
 13


 2001-02
 5
 1
 4
 10


 2002-03
 8
 -
 5
 13


 2003-04
 3
 -
 2
 5


 2004-05
 2
 -
 4
 6


 Fife 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 4
 -
 5
 9


 2000-01
 3
 -
 6
 9


 2001-02
 9
 -
 3
 12


 2002-03
 2
 2
 4
 8


 2003-04
 2
 -
 3
 5


 2004-05
 4
 -
 4
 8


 Grampian 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 6
 2
 7
 15


 2000-01
 6
 2
 5
 13


 2001-02
 13
 -
 11
 24


 2002-03
 6
 -
 5
 11


 2003-04
 7
 -
 8
 15


 2004-05
 10
 -
 8
 18


 Lothian and Borders 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 20
 2
 29
 51


 2000-01
 28
 1
 44
 73


 2001-02
 29
 -
 32
 61


 2002-03
 24
 2
 49
 75


 2003-04
 20
 1
 52
 73


 2004-05
 24
 3
 61
 88


 Northern 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 2
 -
 3
 5


 2000-01
 5
 1
 3
 9


 2001-02
 4
 -
 2
 6


 2002-03
 2
 1
 2
 5


 2003-04
 2
 2
 4
 8


 2004-05
 3
 -
 4
 7


 Strathclyde 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 174
 13
 247
 434


 2000-01
 207
 11
 280
 498


 2001-02
 195
 11
 282
 488


 2002-03
 218
 11
 347
 576


 2003-04
 199
 9
 305
 513


 2004-05
 227
 8
 353
 588


 Tayside 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 15
 -
 11
 26


 2000-01
 9
 1
 14
 24


 2001-02
 13
 -
 20
 33


 2002-03
 16
 1
 17
 34


 2003-04
 12
 1
 9
 22


 2004-05
 16
 1
 24
 41


 Scotland
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 223
 18
 305
 546


 2000-01
 271
 17
 357
 645


 2001-02
 269
 12
 358
 639


 2002-03
 281
 18
 436
 735


 2003-04
 251
 13
 390
 654


 2004-05
 296
 12
 464
 772



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Year of sentence.

  3. Knives and guns cannot be identified separately from other types of offensive weapon in the data held for this crime category.

  Persons Convicted in Homicide Cases1, by Police Force Area, Method of Killing and Sentence, 1999-2000 to 2004-052

  

 Police Force Area
 All Convicted3
 Persons Given a Custodial Sentence


 
 Of Which:
 
 Of Which:


 Total
 Sharp Instrument
 Shooting
 Total
 Sharp Instrument
 Shooting


 Central 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 1
 1
 -
 1
 1
 -


 2000-01
 4
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 2001-02
 3
 3
 -
 3
 3
 -


 2002-03
 4
 2
 -
 2
 1
 -


 2003-04
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 2004-05
 4
 3
 -
 4
 3
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 2
 -
 -
 2
 -
 -


 2000-01
 4
 1
 -
 3
 1
 -


 2001-02
 3
 2
 -
 3
 2
 -


 2002-03
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 2003-04
 2
 2
 -
 2
 2
 -


 2004-05
 2
 2
 -
 2
 2
 -


 Fife 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 2
 -
 -
 2
 -
 -


 2000-01
 4
 4
 -
 4
 4
 -


 2001-02
 2
 1
 -
 2
 1
 -


 2002-03
 1
 1
 -
 1
 1
 -


 2003-04
 4
 -
 -
 3
 -
 -


 2004-05
 3
 2
 -
 3
 2
 -


 Grampian 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 7
 3
 -
 6
 3
 -


 2000-01
 10
 4
 -
 8
 3
 -


 2001-02
 3
 1
 -
 2
 1
 -


 2002-03
 6
 3
 -
 6
 3
 -


 2003-04
 7
 3
 -
 6
 3
 -


 2004-05
 6
 3
 -
 4
 3
 -


 Lothian and Borders 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 6
 2
 -
 4
 2
 -


 2000-01
 8
 2
 1
 7
 2
 -


 2001-02
 12
 3
 -
 12
 3
 -


 2002-03
 15
 7
 -
 13
 7
 -


 2003-04
 13
 9
 -
 13
 9
 -


 2004-05
 10
 5
 -
 10
 5
 -


 Northern 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 3
 2
 -
 2
 2
 -


 2000-01
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 2001-02
 3
 -
 -
 3
 -
 -


 2002-03
 5
 2
 -
 5
 2
 -


 2003-04
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 2004-05
 2
 -
 -
 2
 -
 -


 Strathclyde 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 79
 56
 4
 70
 50
 4


 2000-01
 49
 30
 -
 45
 28
 -


 2001-02
 62
 40
 1
 57
 39
 1


 2002-03
 73
 42
 3
 67
 39
 3


 2003-04
 70
 39
 -
 68
 38
 -


 2004-05
 64
 47
 3
 59
 44
 3


 Tayside 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 6
 1
 -
 3
 1
 -


 2000-01
 4
 2
 -
 4
 2
 -


 2001-02
 8
 6
 -
 7
 5
 -


 2002-03
 6
 5
 -
 6
 5
 -


 2003-04
 3
 3
 -
 3
 3
 -


 2004-05
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Scotland
 
 
 
 
 
 


 1999-2000
 106
 65
 4
 92
 59
 4


 2000-01
 84
 43
 1
 73
 40
 -


 2001-02
 96
 56
 1
 89
 54
 1


 2002-03
 110
 62
 3
 100
 58
 3


 2003-04
 100
 56
 -
 95
 55
 -


 2004-05
 92
 62
 3
 85
 59
 3



  Notes:

  1. Currently (as at 28 November 2005) recorded as homicide.

  2. Year police initially recorded the homicide.

  3. Includes persons acquitted on the ground of insanity and guardianship orders.

Crime

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to reduce crime rates in disadvantaged areas in the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area since 1997.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive has actively encouraged the establishment of community safety partnerships led by the local authority and the police and involving the public, private and voluntary bodies to tackle community safety issues at a local level.

  The specific crime prevention projects funded by the Scottish Executive in Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire are outlined in the answer to question S2W-26712 on 21 June 2006.

  Both council areas have also benefited from action taken within disadvantaged areas through regeneration programmes such as the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF), Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) and Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) which have included crime prevention activities.

  Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership (CPP) was awarded CRF of £2.415 million for the period 2005-06 to 2007-08. From CRF, the CPP has allocated funding to a number of crime reduction projects, including the employment of two outreach workers by the Domestic Abuse Partnership for work in the Kirkmichael/Craigendoran, Helensburgh and Ballochgoy areas. The CPP has also been instrumental in promoting a range of diversionary activities for young people including a skateboard park and one-to-one youth project in Helensburgh.

  West Dunbartonshire CPP was awarded CRF of £13.368 million for 2005-06 to 2007-08, and amongst a number of projects has allocated £155,000 towards consultation with young people through youth action groups established across the area. Over the three-year funding period £155,000 has been awarded to Streetlinks - a youth outreach project – while further awards have been made to the Pupil and Family Support network, and to assist the Tullochan Trust to develop the potential of young people. The Care and Repair service provides crime awareness and prevention information, and equipment, to elderly and disabled residents.

  Under BNSF Argyll and Bute was awarded £2.7 million and West Dunbartonshire £9 million over the three year period 2001-04. Although the Local Outcome Agreements for neither area are specifically aimed at preventing crime, Argyll and Bute did include activities aimed at reducing the fear of crime among older people and West Dunbartonshire provided a range of information, services and activities for young people to make it less likely that they will become involved in crime.

  Since 1997, the Argyll and Bute SIP funded various crime prevention projects totalling £204,000. Although in West Dunbartonshire few project allocations by the SIP have been for direct crime prevention work they have provided £1 million funding for projects which have an impact on crime prevention and reduction such as young person’s befriending schemes, action against vandalism, domestic violence, Crimestoppers, youth diversion schemes etc.

Dentistry

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-26087 and S2W-26088 by Lewis Macdonald on 2 June 2006, how many (a) salaried and (b) non-salaried dentists have (i) started and (ii) stopped providing NHS general dental services since the publication of An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is shown in the following tables. It should be noted that (a) ISD Scotland does not collect information on the specific reasons why dentists cease to provide general dental services and (b) that ISD Scotland would expect a "drop-out" rate of dentists to be observed over any period through retirals, resignations, etc.

  Table 1: Number of Salaried Dentists Who Have Started Providing NHS General Dental Services Since the Publication of An Action Plan For Improving Oral Health And Modernising NHS Dental Services In Scotland (17 March 2005)1,2,6; by NHS Board Area

  

 NHS board area
 No. of Dentists


 Argyll and Clyde
 7


 Ayrshire and Arran
 2


 Borders
 3


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3


 Fife
 -


 Forth Valley
 9


 Grampian
 1


 Greater Glasgow
 7


 Highland
 7


 Lanarkshire
 -


 Lothian
 2


 Orkney 
 4


 Shetland
 -


 Tayside
 -


 Western Isles
 2


 Scotland1,2,6
 33



  Table 2: Number of Non-Salaried Dentists Who Have Started Providing NHS General Dental Services Since the Publication of An Action Plan For Improving Oral Health And Modernising NHS Dental Services In Scotland (17 March 2005)1,2,6; by NHS Board Area

  

 NHS board area
 No. of Dentists


 Argyll and Clyde
 28


 Ayrshire and Arran
 9


 Borders
 2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1


 Fife
 10


 Forth Valley
 16


 Grampian
 19


 Greater Glasgow
 45


 Highland
 9


 Lanarkshire
 26


 Lothian
 24


 Orkney 
 2


 Shetland
 1


 Tayside
 18


 Western Isles
 -


 Scotland1,2,6
 143



  Table 3: Number of Salaried Dentists Who Have Stopped Providing NHS General Dental Services Since the Publication of An Action Plan For Improving Oral Health And Modernising NHS Dental Services In Scotland (17 March 2005)3,4,5,6; by NHS Board Area

  

 NHS board area
 No. of Dentists


 Argyll and Clyde
 4


 Ayrshire and Arran
 -


 Borders
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2


 Fife
 1


 Forth Valley
 1


 Grampian
 3


 Greater Glasgow
 -


 Highland
 4


 Lanarkshire
 -


 Lothian
 -


 Orkney 
 1


 Shetland
 1


 Tayside
 -


 Western Isles
 -


 Scotland3,4,5,6
 14



  Table 4: Number of Non-Salaried Dentists Who Have Stopped Providing NHS General Dental Services Since the Publication of An Action Plan For Improving Oral Health And Modernising NHS Dental Services In Scotland (17 March 2005)3,4,5,6; By NHS Board Area

  

 NHS board area
 No. of Dentists


 Argyll and Clyde
 11


 Ayrshire and Arran
 10


 Borders
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2


 Fife
 13


 Forth Valley
 15


 Grampian
 11


 Greater Glasgow
 45


 Highland
 4


 Lanarkshire
 28


 Lothian
 36


 Orkney 
 2


 Shetland
 -


 Tayside
 17


 Western Isles
 -


 Scotland3,4,5,6
 116



  Source MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System). Data extracted on 26 May 2006.

  Notes:

  1. The number of salaried NHS general dental service principals who were not active at any point in the year prior to 17 March 2005 in one NHS board area and who opened at least one list number in the corresponding NHS board in the period 17 March 2005 to 31 March 2006. A small number of dentists who started operating in a dual-role salaried and non-salaried capacity have been included in Table 1.

  2. Some NHS general dental service principals may have been providing NHS services in another NHS board area in the year prior to 17 March 2005.

  3. The number of salaried NHS general dental service principals who terminated all list numbers in one NHS board area in the period 17 March 2005 to 31 March 2006.

  4. Some NHS general dental service principals may have terminated all list numbers in one NHS board area, but still provide NHS services elsewhere in Scotland.

  5. NHS general dental service principals may cease providing NHS services on a temporary basis.

  6. NHS general dental practitioners (GDPs) enter into a contract with their local NHS board. A GDP may have more than one contract with an NHS board if he/she has more than one practice, and a contract with more than one NHS board if he/she practises in more than one NHS board area. As a result, the sum of the number of dentists in each NHS board area exceeds the number of dentists practising in Scotland.

Disclosure Scotland

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when voluntary organisations will be able to deal directly with Disclosure Scotland to obtain disclosure checks for their volunteers free of charge, rather than going through the Central Registered Body in Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: Disclosure Scotland is working on the changes necessary to allow voluntary organisations to register directly for free disclosure check for volunteers. Most importantly, a revised application form will be necessary, with associated changes to IT systems. The application form is prescribed in secondary legislation and subject to Parliament’s agreement, we expect the new form to be in place by the end of 2006.

Drug Misuse

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been for using illegal drugs on buses in each year since 1999, broken down by police force area.

Colin Boyd QC: The information requested is not available. Cases involving the use of drugs on buses cannot be identified separately from other cases involving offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 as the use of drugs on a bus is not a specific offence.

Drug Misuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it has undertaken, or plans to undertake, to tackle drug misuse in the (a) Dumbarton parliamentary constituency, (b) Argyll and Bute Council area and (c) West Dunbartonshire Council area and how much money has been allocated to each area for this purpose in each year since 1999.

Hugh Henry: Drug Action Teams are responsible for the strategic planning and co-ordination of action to tackle drug misuse in their area. Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire are covered by the Argyll and Clyde ADAT and the Clydebank area of West Dunbartonshire is covered by the Greater Glasgow ADAT. When developing drug treatment and rehabilitation services, Drug Action Teams and their local partners assess the level of need in their areas and have to ensure that the treatment needs of their local drug using population are met.

  Each Drug Action Team produces an Annual Corporate Action Plan which sets out the actions they plan to take over the year to address local drug problems. These plans are available on the ISD website http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org.

  The funding allocated for drug and alcohol treatment services in the Argyll and Clyde ADAT and the Greater Glasgow ADAT since 1999 is as follows:

  

 Year
 Argyll and Clyde ADAT
 Greater Glasgow ADAT


 1999-2000
 901,000
 3,502,000


 2000-01
 984,000
 3,670,000


 2001-02
 1,111,000
 4,387,000


 2002-03
 1,338,000
 4,488,000


 2003-04
 1,338,000
 4,488,000


 2004-05
 1,988,000
 5,488,000


 2005-06
 1,988,000
 5,488,000


 2006-07
 2,226,000
 6,392,000

Drug Misuse

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many methadone users have been allowed to consume their methadone unsupervised in each of the last five years.

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much methadone has been given to users to take unsupervised in each of the last five years.

Hugh Henry: This information is not held centrally, however the Scottish Executive is undertaking a review of the place of methadone in drug treatment. As part of that review we are currently collecting information from NHS boards on the level and circumstances of its use including:

  the number of people receiving methadone treatment for drug misuse, and,

  the number of these who are on a daily supervised consumption regime.

  In addition, Scottish clinicians and Executive officials will be participating in the forthcoming revision of Drug Misuse and Dependence – Guidelines on Clinical Management. This will provide an opportunity to consider more widely the scope of the guidelines including issues around supervised consumption.

Education

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the learning environment for schoolchildren.

Peter Peacock: We are engaged in the biggest new school building and refurbishment programme in modern times, in expanding the numbers of teachers and support staff for teachers, and in creating more learning opportunities choices for pupils through curriculum reform. All these measures, among others, are supporting the learning environment for pupils.

Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was allocated under the Sure Start Scotland programme to (a) Argyll and Bute Council and (b) West Dunbartonshire Council in each year since 1999 and what the money was spent on.

Robert Brown: Grant Aided Expenditure for Sure Start Scotland in Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire Councils was as follows:

  

 
 Argyll and Bute
 West Dunbartonshire


 1999-2000
£117,000
£232,000


 2000-01
£230,000
£334,000


 2001-02
£306,000
£450,000


 2002-03
£306,000
£450,000


 2003-04
£372,000
£548,000


 2004-05
£578,000
£797,000


 2005-06
£875,000
£1,205,000


 2006-07
£980,000
£1,229,000



  Decisions on the allocation of Sure Start Scotland funding to specific projects are a matter for local authorities and has been spent in a range of ways to provide an integrated package of support for families with very young children. A robust mapping exercise, published in December 2005, provided a detailed picture of Sure Start Scotland services and their positive impact on children and families across all local authorities.

Energy

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to assist social landlords in setting up bulk procurement schemes for energy to cut the costs of home energy to tenants.

Allan Wilson: No.

Energy

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage gas users to use alternative forms of energy when replacing central heating boilers.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has no such plans.

Energy

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has made in respect of future use of energy, particularly in respect of moving from oil as a source of energy for transport and from gas for homes and offices.

Allan Wilson: Projections on future supply and consumption of energy are being developed for Volume 5 of the Scottish Energy Study which will be published later this year.

Energy Efficiency

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what energy costs were incurred by each local authority in each of the last three years and what energy costs have been budgeted for by each local authority for the current year, showing year-on-year percentage changes and national totals.

George Lyon: Information on local authority budgeted expenditure for energy costs is not held centrally. However, local authority expenditure on operating expenses, which includes energy costs, is given in table 1 of the publication Scottish Local Government Financial Statistics , copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The reference numbers of the three most recent of these publications are given below.

  

 Bib. Number
 Year


 38657
 2004-05


 35476
 2003-04


 32947
 2002-03

Energy Efficiency

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made to promote energy efficiency in the (a) domestic and (b) commercial sectors.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive continues to promote energy efficiency in the domestic and commercial sectors by funding the work of the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust in Scotland. In 2006-07, funding amounted to over £10 million. These organisations provide a range of support including information, advice and guidance on reducing energy use and free on-site energy audits for business.

  In the domestic sector the Scottish Executive has so far spent over £276 million on its fuel poverty programmes, providing central heating systems to over 69,000 homes and insulating over 229,000 under the Warm Deal.

  The Scottish Executive is also currently developing the first Energy Efficiency Strategy for Scotland, which is due for publication later this year.

Energy Efficiency

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it considers that smart meters can play in improving energy efficiency in homes and whether it has any plans to promote their introduction.

Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive supports, in principal, any measure that can help raise awareness of energy consumption and encourage behavioural changes amongst the public to reduce carbon emissions in homes.

  The Scottish Executive is currently awaiting the outcome of an Ofgem consultation into the benefits and costs of smart metering, and further details of DTI’s smart metering pilot scheme before we consider what action we might take.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on claims that the French Government has provided fuel subsidies to its fishing industry and what steps have been taken at EU level to raise this issue.

Ross Finnie: The Commission’s investigation of the French scheme found that it did not meet state aid rules. I understand the Commission is pursuing the matter but corrective action is a matter for the particular member state and the Commission.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to provide support to the fish processing industry, particularly in the white fish and pelagic sectors.

Ross Finnie: Nineteen awards totalling £2.7 million have been made to the white fish sector under the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG), Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme. This has supported total new investment of almost £14 million. 35 awards totalling some £6.6 million have also been made by the scheme to the pelagic sector. This has supported total new investment of almost £33 million.

Local Government Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital consent has been for (a) Argyll and Bute Council and (b) West Dunbartonshire Council in each year since 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: The capital consents issued under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973  to each council for non-housing capital borrowing is shown in the following table.

  £ Million

  

 Years
 Argyll and Bute Council
 West Dunbartonshire Council


 1999-2000
 10.060
 5.742


 2000-01
 10.766
 5.809


 2001-02
 12.463
 8.713


 2002-03
 16.184
 6.185


 2003-04
 18.531
 7.655



  Notes:

  1. Figures given exclude capital receipts.

  The consent system ceased from 1 April 2004, with the introduction of the Prudential regime.

  2. In addition to the non-housing consents, Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire Councils received allocations of £1.6 million and £5.7 million respectively in each of the years above for housing capital expenditure.

Local Government Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the grant aided expenditure settlement has been for (a) Argyll and Bute Council and (b) West Dunbartonshire Council in each year since 1997, showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is shown in the following table.

  

 
Argyll and Bute Council
(£ Million)
Increase
%
West Dunbartonshire Council
(£ Million)
Increase
%


 1997-98
 104.687
 0.4
 112.239
 -2.3


 1998-99
 105.352
 0.6
 109.574
 -2.4


 1999-2000
 108.878
 3.3
 115.424
 5.3


 2000-01
 111.694
 2.6
 118.784
 2.9


 2001-02
 120.464
 7.9
 131.795
 11.0


 2002-03
 131.200
 8.9
 141.489
 7.4


 2003-04
 145.735
 11.1
 154.660
 9.3


 2004-05
 157.810
 8.3
 164.698
 6.5


 2005-06
 166.670
 5.6
 174.674
 6.1


 2006-07
 173.486
 4.1
 176.841
 1.2


 2007-08
 177.935
 2.6
 181.567
 2.7



  Notes:

  (i) There have been a number of adjustments to the GAE totals over the period covered, including from 2006-07 the transfer of concessionary fares provision from schemes locally administered by councils to a national scheme administered by Transport Scotland. If concessionary fares are taken out of the 2005-06 figures for consistency, the increases between 2005-06 and 2006-07 would be 4.8% for Argyll and Bute Council and 1.4% for West Dunbartonshire Council.

  (ii) Grant aided expenditure provision is neither a budget nor a spending target. Rather it is part of a methodology used in the local government financial settlement for calculating the overall level of support the Scottish Executive provides through the block revenue support grant.

  (iii) The methodology used in the local government financial settlement protects those councils with falling populations (such as West Dunbartonshire Council). It ensured for example that in 2006-07, all councils received a revenue support grant increase of at least two per cent over 2005-06.

Lord Advocate

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24164 by Cathy Jamieson on 3 April 2006 and while party political affiliation is not identified in the act, whether the Lord Advocate’s political affiliation when he was appointed Solicitor General in 1999 was known to it and, if so, what account was taken of it.

Cathy Jamieson: As my answer to answer to question S2W-24164 on 3 April 2006, indicated, political affiliation is not identified in the Scotland Act as a factor relevant to appointment. The appointment of the Solicitor General in 1999 was made by the Scottish Parliament in response to a motion by the then First Minister. The Executive does not hold records of what the then First Minister took into account in proposing his motion, beyond what is contained in the Scottish Parliament Official Report.

NHS Hospitals

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people presented at accident and emergency departments in NHS Tayside in each of the last three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not held centrally. However, NHS Tayside has provided the information shown in the following table on total attendances at accident and emergency department in the years in question.

  

 Hospital
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Ninewells Hospital
 48,158
 48,687
 47,818


 Perth Royal Infirmary
 24,472
 24,391
 25,460


 Stracathro Hospital
 766
 
 


 Total
 73,396
 73,078
 73,278



  Note: Stracathro Hospital accident and emergency closed June 2003.

NHS Staff

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, staff affected by Agenda for Change have had to wait more than (a) three months, (b) six months and (c) 12 months to hear the outcomes of their job evaluations.

Mr Andy Kerr: Job evaluation in NHSScotland is carried out in partnership between employers and trades unions/professional organisations.

  Applying the job evaluation process to 150,000 staff is a complex exercise and while NHSScotland as a whole has made good progress so far, health boards are currently at different stages of the Agenda for Change assimilation process. The current position is that 83% of staff have been job matched of whom 15% have been assimilated onto their new Agenda for Change banding.

  It is currently anticipated that Agenda for Change will be introduced and operational by end 2006, with all staff expected to be assimilated to the new pay bands by October 2006 and payment of arrears made by December 2006

NHS Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors have not been able to find relevant employment within six months of qualifying in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is not available centrally.

Older People

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase the proportion of older people in the (a) Argyll and Bute and (b) West Dunbartonshire local authority area who are able to live independently by increasing home care opportunities since 1997.

Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has increased resources substantially to Argyll and Bute and West Dunbartonshire Councils, as indeed to all councils in Scotland, to enable them to deliver community care policies in their areas. Grant Aided Expenditure for community care across Scotland has more than doubled from £810 million in 1997-98 to £1.7 billion in 2006-07. That includes £162 million this year for free personal and nursing care; £48 million a year specifically to support more older people at home, and £13 million from this year for faster access to home care. In September 2004 we introduced the target of increasing, by 2008, the number of older people receiving intensive home care to 30% of all older people receiving long-term care.

Opencast Mining

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23886 by Allan Wilson on 14 March 2006, where details of consented reserves of opencast coal can be obtained as the weblink contained in the answer is no longer operational.

Allan Wilson: Details of consented reserves of opencast coal are available from the British Geological Survey at http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/minequar/coal/occ/home.html .

Rail Network

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18286 by Tavish Scott on 6 September 2005, how money saved on the reduction of the subsidy payment to First ScotRail was subsequently re-allocated within the transport budget and on what projects it was spent.

Tavish Scott: The annual budget process within the Scottish Executive comprises three separate stages in any financial year. The final opportunity for in year budget transfers approved by Parliament is undertaken in the Spring Budget Revision. The Spring Budget Revision 2004-2005 was laid before Parliament in January 2005 (ISBN 0-7559-3902-6 & SE/2005/03). Within this, Transport Portfolio re-allocated funding to meet existing pressures in that given year as approved by Parliament.

Renewable Energy

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing for the development of marine renewables.

Allan Wilson: We are currently consulting on changes that might be made to the Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS) in order to provide a source of long-term, increased funding to wave and tidal energy generators. Changes to the ROS should provide a strong market signal to developers and suppliers that Scotland is the best location to site and operate their devices.

  We have also recently allocated £8 million for marine energy development which will be spent over the next two years. This money will be used to develop the infrastructure, environmental understanding and technology in order to advance the development of wave and tidal electricity generation in Scottish waters.

Road Safety

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new road safety projects there have been in the (a) West Dunbartonshire Council area, (b) Argyll and Bute Council area and (c) Dumbarton parliamentary constituency since 1999.

Tavish Scott: The information is not available in the format requested. However the following road safety schemes have been implemented on trunk roads in these areas since 1999.

  

 Year
 Route
 Location
 Description of Measures


 1999-2000
 A82
 Garshake Road Junction
 Right turn facility


 2000-01
 A82
 Crosslet
 Anti-skid treatment


 2000-01
 A82
 Dumbuck Quarry
 New signs, anti-skid treatment


 2000-01
 A82
 Milton to Dumbuck
 New signs, anti-skid treatment


 2000-01
 A82
 Balloch to Tarbert Route Accident Reduction Plan
 Signing, lining, anti-skid treatment, safety fence, chevrons and bollards


 2000-01
 A82
 Stoneymollan Roundabout
 Anti-skid treatment, signing, chevrons, transverse yellow bar markings and carriageway markings


 2000-01
 A828
 Connel to Ballachulish Route Accident Reduction Plan
 Signing, lining, anti-skid treatment, chevrons and bollards


 2002-03
 A82
 Barloan Roundabout
 Anti- -skid treatment, signing, chevrons, refurbishment of yellow bar markings and carriageway markings


 2003-04
 A82
 In the vicinity of Greenhead Road
 Closure of central reserve gap, vehicle activated sign, anti-skid surfacing, signing and lining


 2003-04
 A82
 Milton
 Carriageway markings


 2004-05
 A82
 West of Dalnottar Interchange to Gavinsburn
 Carriageway markings


 2004-05
 A85
 Approaches to Lakefield Railway Bridge
 Anti-skid surfacing, vehicle activated signing.


 2005-06
 A83
 Loch Fyne Oyster Bar Junction
 Signing, lining with red screed to identify existing right turn ghost island


 2005-06
 A85
 Connel to Lochawe Route Accident Reduction Plan
 Anti-skid surfacing, signing and lining


 2005-06
 A82
 Ar Rhuba Mor
 Signing


 2005-06
 A83
 Loch Gair
 Anti-Skid Surfacing, signing and lining 



  Information about projects undertaken on the local road network in these areas is a matter for the local authority.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rural Development

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it is providing for community development trusts.

Johann Lamont: Development trusts have received financial support totalling over £800,000 from the Scottish Executive in the last three years. Communities Scotland is also funding the Development Trusts Association Scotland. Support may also be available via the enterprise networks.

  The Scottish Rural Development Programme 2007-13, which is currently out to consultation, may also offer opportunities for rural development trusts to pursue projects to support developments and communities in rural Scotland.

Scottish Executive Staff

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25784 by Mr Tom McCabe on 22 May 2006, whether it will list each secondment to the private sector providing details of the (a) cost, (b) duration and (c) purpose.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following table provides details of each interchange to the private sector in the period 4 April 1999 to 31 March 2006 including the name of the host organisation, the purpose, duration and cost of each secondment.

  There are 21 secondments from Scottish Executive to the private sector from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2006.

  Please note that a previous question response (S2W-25784, answered on 22 May 2006) erroneously recorded the number of outward secondments as 22. This is because an inward secondment was incorrectly included in that answer.

  

 Name of Organisation
 Purpose of Secondment
 Duration of Secondment
 Cost to the SE (£)


 Start
 End


 IT Support Association
 To develop a child care information website.
 12-04-1999
 31-12-1999
 Nil


 Lloyds TSB Foundation
 Programme Manager responsible for community initiatives concerned with tackling Scotland’s drug problem
 1. 28-08-2000
 02-11-2001
 36,515


 2. 07-01-2002
 30-04-2004
 98,519


 3. 16-02-2004
 05-06-2005
 36,585


 4. 15-08-2005
 31-03-2006*
 33,642


 Lloyds TSB PLC
 To work on a project on responsible and responsive banking.
 30-01-2006
 31-03-2006*
 10,025


 Momenta (AEA Technology plc)
 To assist with the growth and delivery of the Envirowise Programme. 
 31-05-2005
 31-03-2006
 Nil


 Royal Bank of Scotland
 Undertake duties within the Chief Executive’s Office.
 20-08-2001
 04-11-2002
 Nil


 Schlumberger
 Undertake a project in the prepaid and Application Cards Department.
 04-12-2000
 10-06-2001
 Nil


 Scottish Chambers of Commerce
 To undertake development of Scottish Chambers’ policies, Scottish Chamber’s International Trade activities and Chamber Services.
 1. 02-08-1999
 31-03-2001
 2,969


 2. 29-07-2002
 11-03-2005
 39,512


 Scottish Coal
 Developing corporate strategy.
 09-01-2006
 31-03-2006*
 21,660


 Scottish Council for Development & Industry
 Involvement in the full range of Policy and Government Affairs programmes. 
 1. 12-03-2001
 31-03-2004
 14,849


 2. 22-08-2005
 31-03-2006*
 7,768


 Scottish Financial Enterprise
 To lead SFE’s work on skills issues. 
1.11-02-2002
 10-10-2003
 22,750


 2. 01-03-2004
 30-04-2005
 28,742


 Scottish Football Association 
 To provide support for the joint bid by Scotland and Eire to host the 2008 European Football Championships.
 02-07-2001
 31-12-2002
 150,000


 Scottish & Newcastle plc 
 To work in the Corporate Affairs Unit as Public Affairs Manager.
 01-10-2000
 31-03-2001
 Nil


 Scottish Power
 Working on the implementation of strategic review of the business activities of Scottish Power.
 20-11-2000
28-02-2006 (Please note 1½ days per month over duration of secondment)
 Nil


 Tontine Hotel
 To provide consultancy and business advice.
 23-06-1999
 31-12-1999
 Nil


 Traveline Scotland
 Project Manager to co-ordinate a small team to deliver Traveline Scotland’s new Business Plan
 13-03-2002
 22-08-2004
 Nil



  Note: * = There are four secondments continuing into the 2006-07 financial year.

Scottish Ministerial Code

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it has in place to enforce the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Ms Margaret Curran: Copies of the code are provided to all ministers. Individual ministers are responsible for ensuring that they follow the guidance in the code in order to uphold the highest standards in public life and are ultimately accountable to Parliament.

Smoking

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been for smoking on buses in each year since 1999, broken down by police force area.

Colin Boyd QC: The following table contains details of all charges reported to Procurators Fiscal since April 2002 for offences under Regulations 5(3)(b) and 6(1)(d) of the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 1990.

  Charges under Regulations 5(3)(b) and 6(1)(d) of the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations 19901

  

 Year2
 Police Force Area
 No. of Charges
 Action taken by Procurator Fiscal


 Prosecution
 Warning Letter
 No Proceedings


 2002-03
 Strathclyde
 1
 
 
 1


2003-04 
 Lothian and Borders
 1
 
 
 1


 Strathclyde
 10
 3
 2
 5


 Grand Total
 
 12
 3
 2
 7



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Management Database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to procurators fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service completed an upgrade of its electronic case management system in April 2002. Only case records created after that date contain complete data which is capable of electronic analysis.

Tourism

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote golf tourism to Scotland.

Patricia Ferguson: Golf tourism is currently worth in the region of £300 million to the Scottish economy, and our aim is to grow this sector by 50% by 2015. The Scottish Executive and VisitScotland are therefore committed to substantial promotional activity in this area.

  VisitScotland will spend around £1 million on promoting golf tourism this year. It has a very successful presence at major golf tournaments such as the Open, the Scottish Open, the Scandinavian Masters and the Deutsche Bank Open in Germany. VisitScotland also attends the PGA Orlando Golf Show with trade partners – this is the biggest golf show in the USA; it undertakes the sponsorship of the International Pairs, which allows marketing executives to speak regularly to club golfers in the UK, and it produces the Official Guide to Golf in Scotland on an annual basis.

  Sam Torrance, Catriona Marshall and Steven O’Hara are all sponsored by VisitScotland as Ambassadors for Scottish Golf, and to promote Scotland in key markets like the US.

Transport

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the potential for the use of straight vegetable oil as a renewable, carbon-neutral road transport fuel in diesel-engined vehicles.

Tavish Scott: Unprocessed (straight) vegetable oil is unlikely to be a useful source of vehicle fuel on a large scale, and a study undertaken by the Department for Transport indicated that unprocessed vegetable oil increased emissions of air pollutants and that the quality of the fuel is variable - suggesting it is not necessarily a clean source of fuel.

  The Scottish Executive supports the UK Government in the development of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation as a realistic means of developing widescale use of biofuel and carbon savings.

Transport

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider offering incentives to encourage local authorities to establish systems for the collection, treatment and use as a road fuel in local authority vehicles of waste vegetable oil from fast food outlets, restaurants, hotels and households.

Tavish Scott: There are no plans to offer such incentives. The storage, collection, treatment and use of any waste is subject to waste regulation. However, the storage and use of fuels derived from waste vegetable oil are exempted from waste management licensing by paragraph 6 of Schedule 3 to the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, as amended. We are examining ways of applying a "light touch" regulatory regime to small-scale preparation facilities.

  There is increasing interest in establishing biofuel production in Scotland and local authorities may wish to consider opportunities for producers to source waste vegetable oil for fuel production.